Braun: Striking “Balance” Key to 24H Spa Repeat Class Win

Photo: JEP/SRO

Colin Braun says striking the right “balance” of not being overly aggressive yet not slipping too far behind too early in the race will be the key to a repeat class victory in this weekend’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Braun and co-drivers George Kurtz, Nicky Catsburg and Ian James have returned to defend their Pro-Am class victory from one year ago, although its Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo is now under the full command of SPS automotive performance, following the last two years with U.S.-based squad Riley.

“The nuts and bolts of the team was our U.S. mechanics and engineers but SPS supported the whole thing,” Braun told Sportscar365. “We used their equipment, used a lot of their mechanics to help fill in.

“This is just 100 percent SPS. Obviously on one hand it’s a bit sad not to be doing it with Bill [Riley] and his guys because they’re so good. We’ve gotten along so well and been through so many good times.

“But at the same time, SPS is a team, before we did [Spa 24] with Riley, we had done it with them. It seems like all the same family.”

With a 75-car GT3 field, Braun predicts more of the same from previous editions.

“It’s going to be typical Spa; it’s going to be chaos,” he said. “Last year it poured rain and I had the best time in the middle of the night driving in the rain.

“Whether it’s raining or dry or whatever, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Spa is Spa.”

When asked what the key to victory, particularly in Pro-Am, which mandates two Bronze-rated drivers, Braun said it’s about finding the right balance.

“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s one you can quickly find yourself falling off the back of the group if you don’t go hard enough.

“Plus you want to be up with the [higher-placed cars]. You don’t want to be racing back with the guys that are not as quick and dialed in.

“There’s a balance. Obviously you’ve got to stay smart and be there at the end and do all those things. But at the same time you can find yourself going a little too easy and next thing you know you’re stuck in the back of the pack.

“I don’t think want do to that. We need to be somewhere in the mix, in the middle.

“Obviously Ian and George have a lot of experience and are really good Bronzes, so I feel like we’ve got a great lineup, a good team, a great car.

“We’ve just go to execute.”

24H Spa “A Bit More Special” This Year Amid CrowdStrike’s Scaled Back GT3 Program

With Kurtz scaling back his racing activities in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS this year due to increased business commitments, Braun feels this year’s run at Spa will be even more special.

“We used to do the entire SRO [America] schedule plus Spa,” he said. “We want to make sure we maximize it and have a good time, enjoy the race, enjoy the experience.

“In a way maybe it makes it a bit more special because we’re not racing that car every single week.

“We obviously did Sonoma to start off the year and both George and I were like, ‘Man, this is so much fun, just driving the car, the format of the races, the whole thing was just a blast.’

“Then you tune into the next one where you’re watching on TV and you’re a bit sad that you’re not there being part of it.

“It will make it special for sure.”

While CrowdStrike by Riley’s next scheduled SRO America appearance is the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS, Braun said there “could be” an additional race outing or two before October’s season finale.

“It just depends on George’s schedule,” said Braun. “Obviously he’s super busy but he loves his racing and obviously likes being competitive and having a chance to win races.

“Riley and our program, every time we show up, I feel like we’ve got a chance to win races.

“That’s a pretty strong draw for George, so hopefully he can find some time.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John